Free The Swiss Family RobinZOM (Book 3) by Perrin Briar Page A

and a few seconds later, a deep rumble of thunder followed that echoed the family’s morose mood. Halfway up Sharpie they turned to look back and found the Lurchers emerging from the jungle.
    “These things never give up, do they?” Ernest said.
    “They don’t know how to give up,” Bill said.
    “Do we?” Liz said.
    Bodies aching and panting for air, the family scaled the final ascent to the top of the mountain. Shaking, and weak with fatigue, Ernest put his hand on a boulder. It leaned forward, and a small crack marched across its surface. Ernest held his breath, and then breathed a sigh of relief when it didn’t fall. There was a grinding noise, and the boulder teetered forward and rolled down the hill, reverberating like a herd of horses. It crashed down the mountainside and flattened a train of Lurchers.
    “What was all that noise?” Liz said, reappearing from the summit.
    Fritz and Ernest shared a look, eyes wide. A smile appeared on their faces.
    “It’s Ernest,” Fritz said. “He had an accident and it might be the best idea he’s ever had!”
    “Even inadvertently I’m a genius!” Ernest said.
    “Yes,” Fritz said, “but saying you’re a genius isn’t genius.”
    Fritz moved up to another boulder, blown and shaped into a large round ball by the wind.
    “He put his hand on a boulder like this,” he said.
    The boulder leaned forward and toppled down the mountainside, squashing more Lurchers in its path. Bill clapped Ernest on the shoulder.
    “And look!” he said. “They’re all coming out to investigate the noise! We still might win this thing!”

 
     
    Twenty-Five
     
    He heard a voice shouting somewhere in the distance… Far in the distance… It was fuzzy and unclear. When he opened his eyes he found his vision just as muddy.
    “…ack! Are you all right? Shall I…? Jack? Shall I come down?”
    Jack recognised the voice, and it snapped him out of his daze.
    “No,” Jack said in a groggy voice. “Stay there, Francis. I’ll be all right.”
    Jack was upside down, hanging by one foot. Nip sat on the ground before him, looking at him with concern. Jack reached for the knife in his back pocket. But as he reached in, it slipped past his hand and hit the ground. Jack turned and peered out the corner of his eye, but couldn’t see his knife. Jack turned to Nip.
    “Nip,” he said. “Knife. Get my knife.”
    Nip cocked his head to one side.
    “Knife,” Jack said. “Get it. Go on.”
    Nip blinked, unmoving.
    “Why didn’t I teach you the word for knife?” Jack said. “Idiot!”
    Jack tilted his weight forward, then back, forward, and back again, building up momentum. As he swung back, he saw his knife. He reached for it, but missed. As he swung in again for another try, his fingertips grazed it, and then on the third attempt, he grabbed it.
    “Yes!” he said.
    Something tightened around his wrist. His arm was drawn up alongside his foot.
    “This is great,” Jack said. “Really great.”
    He still had the knife in one hand. He tried to cut the vine with it, but the angle was too awkward. He tried to bring his free hand up to take the knife, but could only reach up to his forearm. Jack froze. There was a groan, long and drawn out like a dying man’s last breath. It came from the foliage behind him. Eyes wide with fear, Jack looked at Nip.
    “I know you’re in pain, Nip,” Jack said, voice low, “but please, help me.”
    The little capuchin monkey must have picked up on something, as he got up onto his tiny feet and limped over to Jack’s outstretched hand. He climbed, careful not to use his injured foot.
    “The vine!” Jack said. “Bite it! Bite!”
    The foliage shook, and the low groan became louder. Nip’s hand gripped the folds of Jack’s trousers as he pulled himself up Jack’s leg.
    “Yes!” Jack said. “Bite!”
    Nip hesitated. He pointed at the vine.
    “Yes!” Jack said. Bite it!”
    Nip bit Jack on the ankle.
    “Ow!” Jack said.
    The groan stopped,